{"id":583633,"date":"2026-08-05T05:14:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T05:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/583633\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T05:14:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T05:14:18","slug":"irelands-biggest-solar-eclipse-since-1999-is-days-away-with-up-to-97-of-sun-to-disappear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/583633\/","title":{"rendered":"Ireland’s biggest solar eclipse since 1999 is days away with up to 97% of Sun to disappear"},"content":{"rendered":"

The south-west of the country is expected to see the most dramatic views, with up to 96% to 97% of the Sun obscured in parts of Kerry<\/p>\n

Emma O’Neill Content Editor<\/p>\n

21:33, 04 Aug 2026Updated 21:34, 04 Aug 2026<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Skywatchers across Ireland are just days away from witnessing the deepest solar eclipse visible from the country since 1999.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, August 12, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking much of the Sun’s light and creating a spectacular partial solar eclipse visible across the island.<\/p>\n

While a total solar eclipse, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, will only be visible from a narrow path stretching across Greenland, Iceland, Spain, northern Russia and a small part of northern Portugal, people across Ireland will still enjoy an extraordinary sight.<\/p>\n

The south-west of the country is expected to see the most dramatic views, with up to 96% to 97% of the Sun obscured in parts of Kerry. Even in Dublin, around 94% of the Sun is expected to disappear behind the Moon, while Belfast will see around 93% coverage.<\/p>\n

It will be the deepest solar eclipse visible from Ireland since August 11, 1999.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: NASA\/ISS \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n

Where will the best views be?<\/p>\n

Experts say the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry will offer the best views anywhere in Ireland.<\/p>\n

Sitting at the country’s south-western tip and closest to the eclipse’s path of totality, the area is expected to experience between 96% and 97% coverage.<\/p>\n

Because the eclipse takes place shortly before sunset, the Sun will be sitting very low in the western sky. Anyone hoping to catch the best views should find an elevated spot or coastal location with an uninterrupted view towards the west or south-west.<\/p>\n

Other recommended viewing locations include:<\/p>\n

South-west Ireland<\/p>\n

The Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry.Mizen Head in County Cork, where around 96% coverage is expected.Geokaun Mountain in County Kerry, offering elevated views across the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Wild Atlantic Way<\/p>\n

The Aran Islands in County Galway.The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, where the low western horizon provides excellent viewing conditions.<\/p>\n

Dublin and the east coast Although eclipse coverage will be slightly lower than in the south-west, Dublin is still expected to see around 94% of the Sun covered.<\/p>\n

Some of the capital’s best vantage points include:<\/p>\n

Howth Head.Killiney Hill.Phoenix Park, where astronomy groups are expected to host public viewing events using filtered solar telescopes.<\/p>\n

Northern Ireland People in Northern Ireland can also expect an impressive display, with around 93% coverage.<\/p>\n

Recommended viewing spots include the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory near Omagh and elevated locations such as Cave Hill overlooking Belfast.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

What time will the eclipse happen?<\/p>\n

The eclipse will begin shortly after 6pm IST, although exact timings vary slightly depending on where you are.<\/p>\n

Along the Kerry and Cork coast, the partial eclipse is expected to begin at around 6.05pm, reaching its maximum at approximately 7.07pm, before ending at around 8.02pm.<\/p>\n

In Galway, the eclipse will begin at around 6.06pm, peak at approximately 7.08pm with around 95% of the Sun covered, and finish just after 8pm.<\/p>\n

People in Dublin will see the eclipse begin at around 6.09pm, reach its deepest point at around 7.10pm, when about 94% of the Sun will be obscured, before ending at around 8.03pm.<\/p>\n

Belfast will follow a similar timetable, with the eclipse beginning shortly after 6.09pm, peaking at around 7.10pm with approximately 93% coverage and ending just after 8pm.<\/p>\n

What is a solar eclipse?<\/p>\n

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow across part of the Earth’s surface.<\/p>\n

Because the Moon’s shadow only covers a relatively small area, total solar eclipses are only visible from a narrow path, while a much larger area experiences a partial eclipse.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Image: AP)<\/p>\n

There are between two and five solar eclipses every year, with a total solar eclipse occurring somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months.<\/p>\n

How to watch safely<\/p>\n

Experts warn that you should never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection, even during a partial eclipse.<\/p>\n

Anyone planning to watch should use certified eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe.<\/p>\n

Another safe option is to make a simple pinhole projector, allowing you to project an image of the Sun onto another surface without looking at it directly.<\/p>\n

A bonus for stargazers<\/p>\n

The celestial show will not end when the eclipse does.<\/p>\n

As darkness falls later that evening, the Perseid meteor shower will be at its peak. With little moonlight to interfere after sunset, weather permitting, people across Ireland could also be treated to dozens of shooting stars, making it one of the best nights of the year for stargazing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The south-west of the country is expected to see the most dramatic views, with up to 96% to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":583634,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[5499,61,60,43],"class_list":["post-583633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-events","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=583633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583633\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/583634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=583633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=583633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=583633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}